Spotted by Twitter user Timur222 and reported by Game World Observer it appears that the latest to be aff??ected by layoffs within Embracer Group and the video game industry in general are Crypti??c Studios and Zen Studios.

The news has come as a result of multiple employees within the studios updating their Linkedin profiles to seek new employment opportun?ities. Because of this, it’s unknown just how many are affected by these layoffs, which appear to have happened last week, and Embracer has not released a statement to clarify.

Cryptic Studios rose to prominence with the development of City of Heroes (my favorite MMO) and continues to maintain Champions Online, Star Trek Online, and Neverwinter. Meanwhile, Zen Studios is the developer behind the Zen Pinball and Pinball FX series.

The layoffs are part of a continued cost-cutting campaign by Embracer Group. The company had previously launched an aggressive acquisition campaign and bought out a number of developers, large and small. This seems to be related to a $2 Billion dollar investment that reportedly fell through earlier in the year.

Embracer isn’t the?? only one conducting layoffs. This year has been horrible when it comes to people losing their jobs, not just in the video game industry but the tech industry in general. The list is a bit long, and it’s really depressing, so I’m just going to copy what Destructoid’s own Eric “Boulder Puncher�Van Allen wrote previously:

"A brief list includes Epic Games, Striking Distance Studios, CD Projekt Red, multiple studios owned by Embracer Group including Beamdog and Crystal Dynamics, Ubisoft, BioWare, Relic, Riot, Firaxis, and Microsoft. Plus reports of more at Twitch, Naughty Dog, and Team17. On top of all that, there was also the shutdown of Dang!, PixelOpus, Vanpool, and Volition Games."

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Thing on a Spring

Zen Studios has revealed three more classic Williams tables headed to the Pinball FX 3 platform. The Williams Pinball: Vol. 5 pack will include Cirqus Voltaire, No Good Gofers, and Tales of the Arabian Nights, and will launch on all platforms December 10.

Originally released back in 1996, Tales of the Arabian Nights is a lavish fantasy title based upon the One Thousand and One Nights fables. TOTAN's many modes see players battle the Rocs, ride a magic carpet, and even sneak into a harem. The playfield itself features a spinning lamp and a giant Djinn, prepared for a final showdown. TOTAN was one of the games that got me back into pinball, as I was drawn in by its storytellin?g-style gameplay and lavish artwork.

No Good Gofers, which hit the arcades in 1997, is a more comedic table loosely based on Bill Murray's destructive antics in the movie Caddyshack. Players take on two wisecracking pests, Bud and Buzz, while attempting to achieve a high score out on the links. NGG also features a multi-level playfield and a famou??sly tough "Hole-in-One" shot, where the ba?ll shoots off a ramp and takes to the air, before landing snugly in a hole on the upper playfield.

Finally Bally/Williams lit up the scene in 1997 with Cirqus Voltaire, one of the most eye-catching games ever designed. Set in a futuristic circus, charged by a fiendish ringmaster, Cirqus Voltaire used strips of neon l??ighting to give its playfield an intense glow of greens, pinks and purples.?? Players rack up points while competing in a series of traditional circus acts including acrobats, a juggler, and the tightrope.

As per usual, all three tables will be available to play in both traditional and "remastered" mode, which adds an array of special effects to each game, including 3D modeled characters, dynamic ball effects and animated action sequences. All three games are a lot of fun and very creative. In my humble opinion, of the Pinball FX Williams packs released so far, this ??is t?he most consistent in terms of quality.

Pinball FX 3 is ava??ilable ??now on PS4, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

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'EXTRA BAAAAALLLLLOOOOOW!!!'

Zen Studios' Pinball FX3 is the latest video game to reveal some spooky content it has planned for the?? Halloween season. The upcoming?? DLC pack will bring two classic Williams' pinball machines to the simulator, both based on Universal Studios' classic monster movies.

Monster Bash, released in 1998, is a popular title which sees Universal's Wolfman, Mummy, Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, The Bride and The Creature From the Black Lagoon brought together to form a band. Players must use their skill and reflexes to gather each member of the hard-rockin' outfit, before taking to the stage in the titular Monster Bash. In the pinball community, MB is known for its great callouts, fun music and detaile??d and colourful p?layfield. It remains one of the upper-tier titles in terms of price today.

Creature From the Black Lagoon, released in 1992, is less about the movie itself and focuses more on the Drive-In experience of the 1950s. Using rockabilly music and lingo, along with the kitschy marketing style of B-movies, CFTBL was a big hit on release, thanks also to its 3D hologram gimmick,? which would sometimes see the titular mer-creature glowing out from the playfield.

As usual, both titles will be presented in classic and remastered form, the latter option will add new special effects and 3D character models to the old-school gameplay. The Williams Pinball: Universal Monster Pack will a??lso feature Zen's recently-tweaked p??hysics engine.

Williams Pinball: Universal Monster Pack will launch October 29 on PS4?, Xb??ox One, PC, Nintendo Switch and mobile devices.

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Tilt the table, Luke

For a little over a decade now, Zen Studios has been perfecting its craft at making pinball games. Starting with Pinball FX on Xbox 360?? all the way back in 2007, the studio has seemingly not stopped finding ways to adapt different properties into pinball tables. With a release on basically every major platform (including the Wii U) and tons o??f IPs to work from, Zen Studios has its work cut out for it.

One of the more recognizable releases from the studio has to be Star Wars Pinball. Originally a few small tables as an add-on for Pinball FX2, the DLC has morphed into basically its own game over the years. Zen Studios even released a standalone version of the spin-off on PS3 and Vita in 2013. Combining pinball with one of the most recognizable brands in entertainment history, it was a match made in heaven for fans of Pinball FX.

At long last, the title is finally available on Switch and it somehow man??ages to bring even more new features into the fold. The Force is definitely strong with this one, but let's breakdown exactly what you can expect should you opt into ?Jedi training on your Switch.

Starting off, Star Wars Pinball on Switch is based on the latest version of Pinball FX3 for Nintendo’s platform. When Zen Studios first brought over its premiere pinball game to the hybrid machine, there were some disappointing performance issues. Thankfully, this new release contains all of the fixes done to get Pinball FX3 running at 60 FPS on the device. You won't even need a day-one patch to see it running smoothly, either (which should be grea?t news for anyone wanting the physical version).

As for what this package entails, you'll be getting all 19 Star Wars-themed tables along with a "campaign" mode, an XP-based multiplayer power struggle, and the option to play with vertical orientation. That last part is crucial since it is technically the only console port of the game to feature that. You can get "cabinet mode" on the Steam release of Pinball FX3, but it requires a special key from Zen Studios. On Switch, it's available with a simple pus?h of the m?inus button and it even works in docked mode.

Two years after the release of Nintendo's console, I’m still in awe of how smoothly it operates.?? Starting up a table on your television, removing the console from its dock, tilting the orientation, and resuming play is just so seamless. It's the kind of thing that would have abs?olutely obliterated my mind as a kid.

The campaign mode is probably not what you're expecting. You won't be getting any additional story or some table-based recreation of the classic Star Wars plotlines, but more a series of challenges set to specific tables — things like "Earn X score in five minutes" or "Complete X score in under 200 flips." It's pretty basic stuff, but it does give you an incentive to get better at individual tables or improv?e certain techniques.

As you do improve your scores, you'll earn tokens that can be traded in for upgrades. Much like Pinball FX3 proper, you'll ??find various upgrades that all give you boosts to your score. Things like slow-motion and bonus multipliers are available as well as other ways of bolstering your points. If you feel that diminishes the challenge a bit, you can opt to forgo them completely and play a purer version of pinball. A single-player hot-seat mode even offers just as much.

What I was surprised to find is that a few of the tables have mini-games. On the Empire Strikes Back table, you can actually re-enact the famous lightsaber duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. It's a little clunky and obviously a gimmick, but it perfectly captures the vibe that old-school pinball tables used to have. It also looks stellar ?in vertical mode, with Vader appearing larger than life on a big-screen television.

There's been a lot of care given to specific little details here. John Williams' iconic score is present, all of the sound effects are film accurate, and the visuals do a splendid job of capturing the atmosphere of George Lucas' legendary series. The only real stumble is that the voice actors aren't very good. Maybe it's more that I'm expecting sound-?alikes, but it's so hard to hear someone attempting to be Han Solo and missing the mark by a Tatooine mile.

Voice acting isn't what is going to keep drawing you back to Star Wars Pinball, though. If it's not the addictive table design (of which only a few are duds), then it will probably be the interesting multiplayer component. Not some kind of direct head-to-head mode, Zen Studios has inc??luded what it calls the "Galactic S??truggle" as a means of extending replayability. Players will select which side of the Force they align with, and then perform a series of score-based challenges to earn favor and XP for their team.

I’m not sure what the full extent of Galactic Struggle is (the player count was incredibly low post-launch), but it could make for a neat tug-of-war that draws you back in every now and then. If that's not your thing, then you'll likely still find that the sheer value proposition of Star Wars Pinball makes it palatable. Retailing for only $29.99, this is not only? a hell of a buy but a cheaper alternative to grabbing all of the tables individually on other platforms.

You don't get cross-compatibility with Pinball FX3 (something that is possible on other platforms), but you also don't need to worry about getting multiple DLC packs. This is a simple, one-time purchase that caters to Star Wars fans with little fuss. As I started out mentioning, Zen Studios has perfected its craft, so why wouldn't you want multiple tables? Almost everything here is really good and even if you hate The Last Jedi, the table is damn fine.

Star Wars may be a bit old hat by now and maybe Zen Studios hasn't really innovated on its formula all that much, but does that ultimately matter? Star Wars Pinball is a great package for Switch owners and something I can easily recomm??end to fans of digital pinball.

_{[This impressions piece is based on a retail build of the software provided by the publisher.]}

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Hocus Pocus

A new trio of classic "real-world" pinball machines have been released for Zen Studios' great pinball platform, Pinball FX 3. Williams Pinball Vol. 3 adds three famous titles from the silver ball's golden era to the wide variety of titles the Pinball FX catalogue already has to offer.

This new volume kicks things off with 1997's Theater of Magic, where players must guide their ball through a series of incre??asingly difficult stage acts, culminating in an impressive grand finale. This game is well known for its dramatic score and rotating magic chest. It is looked down upon somewhat by pinball fans, but I get a kick out of it.

Also included in Volume 3 is 1998's The Champion Pub, which is essentially a game about drinking and bare-knuckle boxing. This title features frantic gameplay, a list of increasingly-difficult opponents, a rowdy dude on the playfield that you have to bash and, most notably, a selection of terribly-performed accents.

Rounding out the trio is a slightly rarer title, 1996's Safecracker. This particularly unique machine has you playing against the clock, rather than limiting you to  certain amount of balls, as you attempt to break into a high-security vault. The original mach??ine awarded players with plastic?? tokens as a reward for completion.

All three games can be played in standard form of with Pinball FX 3's additional 3D models and effects. Fortunately, Zen has retracted the ridiculous censorship that plagued their first run of William??s' releases, and now these classic recreations feature an option to restore all the original art?work and DMD animations to their barely-risque original form.

Pinball FX 3 is available now o??n PS4, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

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Age rating tilts classic tables

Zen Studios has released Williams Pinball Volume 1, bringing four classic '90s pinball machines to their excellent simulator Pinball FX 3. The first pack features Fish Tales, Junk Yard, The Getaway and one of the most popular machines of all time, Medieval Madness.

The pack costs around $8, although Fish Tales is free-for-all Pinball FX 3 owners. Each table has been painstakingly recreated in the Pinball FX 3 engine, and even features optional new special effects, adding tabletop characters and bringing some of the game's ornaments to life with new animations. The Bally/Williams licence and Zen Studios are?? truly a match made in heaven.

Unfortunately, in order to secure an "E" rating, Zen have chosen to make alterations to the games' backglass, playfield and cabinet art, as well as some changes to Dot Matrix animations. All reference to tobacco and alcohol (such as cans of beer or a troll smoking a cigar) have been removed from the artwork and bloody weapons have been scrubbed cleaned. Mild innuendo also felt the airbrush, as Fish Tales' mermaids have had their midriffs covered, and a bikini-clad girl in Medieval Madness is now rocking a suit of armour.

"In order to meet our age range obligations," reads an in-game message. "We were compelled to tone down or adjust the following pertinent contents of the table." This is followed by a list of changes made to Medieval Madness, Fish Tales and Junk Yard, exam??ple?s of which you can read in the gallery below.

Considering these tables have been released prior in their uncensored form - in titles such as The Pinball Arcade and Williams' Pinball Classics - this is disappointing. Censorship is an enemy of preservation, and whilst it's understandable why Zen Studios has chosen this option, I think t?hey're doing themselves, and these games, an unnecessary disservice.

For whatever it's worth, all four tables look fantastic and play great, as is to be expected from the highly-talented Zen Pinball crew. None of these small changes affect gameplay, they're purely egregious from an aesthetic standpoint. But to be dodging mild risque images for the sake of not getting a "T" rating (and in theory, as Williams Pinball Classics got away with "E10") raises questions about possible future titles such as Elvira: Scared Stiff, Frankenstein, Phantom of the Opera, Tales of the Arabian Nights, Xenon, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and other games that feature mild violence, bo?oze, sexuality and gambling content.

Williams Pinball Volume 1 is available now for Pinball FX 3 on PS4, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

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These tables are (special when) lit

Zen Studios has released details on their first Williams tables pack for their excellent pinball simulator Pinball FX 3. The pack will contain fo??ur classic real-life pinbal machines th?at lit up many an arcade in the '90s.

Williams Pinball Volume One will include Fish Tales, Junk Yard, High Speed II: The Getaway and the classic Medieval Madness. Fish Tales is free for all as an introductory bonus, and ??the pack is set to run about $10. But that's not all. Zen has also revealed that each Williams table will be playable in Classic and all-new Remastered modes.

Classic will see the table play just like it did in the arcade, whereas remastered will include new visual effects designed by Zen including new visuals and animated 3D models. For example, the static dragon on Medieval Madness' right ramp will now roar, flap its wings and breathe fire, whilst The Getaway will feature an angry cop at the plunger and?? a flaming trail when the ball redlines. Both editions of the tables are included in the purchase.

Pinball FX 3 is available now on PS4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch. Williams Pinball Volume One launches October 9.

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The news has got me on tilt

In news sure to make the day of pinball fans the world over, Zen Studios, developer of Pinball FX 3 have purchased the rights to the classic Bally/Williams catalogue. The team plan to start pushing out digital recreations of some of the '90s most fondly remembered ??p?inball machines.

"Most of our developers grew u??p admiring Williams and Bally pinball machines" said Zsolt Kigyossy, Zen's Managing Director. "We have a grand vision for what we can add to these amazing tables on gaming and mobile devices. We are dedicated to providing an amazing experience and new challenges for all players around the world!"

The first four tables on the books are Fish Tales, The Getaway, Junk Yard and one of the most popular pinball machines of all time, Medieval Madness. Also spotted in the trailer below are manuals for other great titles such as Theater of Magic, Black Rose and the neon power of Circus Voltaire.

Obviously, games such as Twilight Zone, The Addams Family or my personal favourite, Bram Stoker's Dracula are likely not on the cards right now, due to their separate licensing costs, but fingers crossed for the future. Pinball FX 3 is an excellent pinball simulat?or, and it's taken far too long for these licences to find their way into the hands of the perfect developer to do the?m justice.

Pinball FX 3 ?is avail?able now on PS4, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

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Movie-themed tables now available in VR mode

Zen Studios, creators of the excellent Pinball FX3 simulator, are to add the Universal Classics table pack to Pinball FX2 VR, available now on Oculus Rift and VR Gear.

Released alongside the debut of Pinball FX3 last year, the Universal Classics pack features three tables based on famous Amblin Entertainment movies: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Back to the Future, and the greatest movie ever made, Jaws.

All three of the tables feature characters, locations and memorable moments from the iconic blockbusters, (as well as unintentionally funny impersonato?rs). The new VR versions of the tables will ??include extra 3D features, such as a shark's fin stealthily patrolling the cabinet, or Doc Brown's DeLorean taking flight across the playfield.

The Universal Classics DLC pack is available to purchase right now. Pinball FX2 VR is ?available on Oculus Rift, Ocu?lus Go and Gear VR.

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New update enables 1080p when docked

Zen Studios excellent Pinball FX3 came ??to the Nintendo Switch in December of last year and unfortunately ran?? afoul of poor visual clarity when docked, as well as framerate issues when in handheld mode.

At first there was some back and forth over whether Zen were going to be able to fix the situation. But, now, digital pinball players can rejoice, as a new update has rolled out for Pinball FX3 on Switch that bumps t??he game's resolution to 1080p when d?ocked, as well as ramping the framerate to 60fps when you decide to go portable.

The new update also implements a host of tweaks and bug fixes that were delivered to other platforms in April. You can check out the full patch notes right here. I've enjoyed Pinball FX for many years, having always found its unique and forward-thinking approach to table?? design fascinating. It's good to hear that now Switch owners can experience the simulator as intended.

A huge #NintendoSwitch update is live for @PinballFX 3! Enjoy the game in fluid 60 FPS in handheld mode, and in 1080p in docked mode. Lots of new features and fixes also released! Check out the full list here: //t.co/CcO4KSDVoh pic.twitter.com/JWvLhvbWlN

— Zen Studios (@zen_studios) May 3, 2018

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UNCANNY VALLEY

Zen Studios' Pinball FX series is no stranger to Star Wars tables, so obviously some DLC based on The Last Jedi was in the works. Now available for Pinball FX3 on ??everything but Switch, you can relive Rey's training with Luke on Ahch-To and stare at some very creepy renditions of Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill. Lik??e, seriously, Rey looks terrifying.

The DLC also includ??es a second table that acts like a basic summary of the pl?ot of the film, which is neat. Captain Phasma and Finn end up looking better, but I still can't get over how stiff and awkward the posing is. I wonder how the actors feel about portrayals like this.

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Pheatures Phasma

Zen Studios are releasing two new tables to their ambitious pinball simulator Pinball FX3. These new additions are both based upon that Star Wars movie you-hate-even-though-its-fine-honestly, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi.

The Last Jedi table will feature a recreation of 2017's muddled sci-fi opera. In keeping with previous Pinball FX Star Wars tables, game modes and "Hurry Ups" will be based around famous scenes from the movie, from the incredible Throne Room battle to that bit where BB-8 saved everyb??ody ??in every given situation because reasons.

The second table is based around Anch-To island, where aces hero Rey goes to receive Jedi training and he?lp the film make its 152-minute runtime. The Anch-To table is designed to be "more organic" according to the developer, with the various ramps and habitrails designed to represent the natural flow of the Porg-filled retreat.

The Star Wars: The Last Jedi pack comes to Pinball FX3 April 17. Pinball FX3 is?? available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

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60 FPS in handheld mode, 1080p in docked mode

After some back and forth, Zen Studios has promised that it will, in fact, tidy up the less-than-ideal Nintendo Switch version of Pinball FX3. A patch planned for this summer will bump the frame rate to 60 FPS in han??dheld mode and achieve 1080p in docked mode for "all 30+ tables in the library."

Previously, Zen had said it lacked the necessary "bandwidth" to handle this type of performance update, but clearly the fans have spoken and the team ha?s since changed its priorities.

Leading up to the summer patch, the team will "still proudly stand by the current Switch iteration of Pinball FX3, which currently boasts a very respectable 83 Metacritic rat??ing, and we will continue to release exceptional content in the months to come," according to VP of publishi??ng Mel Kirk.

Pinball FX3 – Nintendo Switch Update [Zen Studios]

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Too much tilt

Pinball FX3 on Switch is a pretty neat way to experience Zen Studios' classic pinball series. In addition to having the ability to play anywhere, you can also use vertical orientation to play the tables. This gives a new perspective on the action, but there is one problem the Switch version has that no other port exhibits; framerate drops. For some reason, Pinball FX3 just doesn't run smo?othly on Switch, though do?cked play fairs quite a bit better than portable.

While plans for an update to smooth out the performance were in the works, Zen Studios has now decided to step away from fixing up the Switch port. As discovered by a Reddit user after reaching out to customer support, Pinball FX3 will n??ot be getting updated on Swit??ch to bump up the resolution or alter any of the performance.

Zen Studios even came in the thread to comment about the discovery,? saying that performance updates would have to be on a per table basis and that they didn't posses the bandwidth to handle such an intense Q&A process. While that does make sense for such a small studio, why was this port than pus?hed to release on Switch? Did everyone at the company think the game was up to snuff and worth charging for?

I don't mind Pinball FX3 on Switch, but a lot of that opinion rested on how ridiculous the games industry has gotten with patches. Getting a game on day one is increasingly becoming pointless, but even horrible ports can end up becoming playable after awhile. I figured this was going to be the case for Pinball FX3, but that turned out to be wrong.

So if you haven't yet made? the jump on buying the Switch version of this game, you would be better served putting? it out of your mind; Zen Studios has done as much.

Pinball FX3 resolution + framerate patch CANCELLED [Reddit]

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Sideshows and Snakeheads

Pinball FX turns ten years old this week. To celebrate, developers Zen Studios has a double announcement. First up, the simulator's latest iteration, Pinball FX3, is now available on Nintendo Switch. Also, all formats will receive two new tables free; Adventure Land and Son of Zeus.

Adventure Land takes you on a trip to the carnivals of your dad's Good Old Days, featuring a design based on classic rides and sideshow attractions. Though Zen have intended Adventure Land to be a more stripped-down "classic pinball" affair, it's still?? amusingly optimi?stic in its layout and design.

The Son of Zeus table features a first for Pinball FX, variable weather?? conditions, as Hercules takes down mythological creatures and legendary monsters, such as the Hydra and Medusa, in a quest to get to the top of Mo??unt Olympus and prove himself the big boy on the block.

Both tables can be downloaded on all formats gratis, provided you grab them before December 19. As a card-carrying pinball player/owner, I've been a fan of Pinball FX for a decade, and hope they will continue to produce their brilliant, imaginative, physics-defying designs for years to come, even if some of them do feature some of the most unintentionally hilarious celebrity impersonations ever performed.

Pinball FX3 is?? available now on PS4, Xbox One, PC and Switch.

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Pinball Wizard

In what is hopefully the final update in this saga, Pinball FX3's Switch port will be releasing on December 12. The big reason for that last minute delay; it looks like there was an issue with holding the co?nsole vertically and only having one joy-con attac?hed (which is an odd limitation the Switch forces in handheld mode).

When the game finally lands, you'll be able to remove one joy-con and experience pinball like an actual table. The table list from previous updates will? be ready for?? launch and Zen Studios promises more tables will be coming.

All in all, this looks to be shaping up as the best version of Pinball FX3.

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Too much tilt

The last we heard about the Switch port of Pinball FX3, it was on track to release tomorrow (November 14). Zen Studios must have encountered some kind of bug, because they've just announced that the extreme pinball simulator will now be targeting a December release date on Nintendo's portable console. No time frame was given, but the ??developer did say they will have spec?ifics very soon.

At least Zen Studios is able to recognize an issue and delay the game instead of just unleashing it on the world??, problems and all. More developers would be wise to follow such a practice, since a bad first impression can become hard to recover from in today's digital age.

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And you can actually tilt the console!!!

Pinball FX3 will be making the jump to the Switch in a few weeks. Coming out on November 14, the game will launch alongside 30 tables and will be available as a free download with one table (the "Sorcerer's Lair"). The cross-platform features between Xbox One, PC and Windows 10 will also be offered on this version, meaning you'll have plenty of players to sh??ow off your high scores to. This new port will also take advantage of some of the unique features of the Switch. In portable mode, you'll be able to play in portrait orientation to get a full view of each table.

The tables that will be ready for launch are:

• Universal Classics Pinball (Back to the Future, E.T., Jaws)
• Aliens vs. Pinball (Aliens, Alien vs. Predator, Alien: Isolation)
• Balls of Glory (Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, Archer, American Dad!)
• Portal
• The Walking Dead
• Sorcerer’s Lair (free)
• Carnivals & Legends (Adventure Land Pinball, Son of Zeus)
• Zen Classics (Shaman, Tesla, El Dorado, V12)
• Core Collection (Pasha, Rome, Biolab, Secrets of the Deep)
• Medieval Pack (Epic Quest, Excalibur)
• Sci-Fi Pack (Mars, Paranormal, Earth Defense)
• Iron & Steel (Wild West Rampage, CastleStorm)

I find it surprising that the Switch hasn't yet received a p??inball game. You'd think pinball would be perfect for any situation and being able to actually tilt the console would add an extra level of immersion. At least that is finally being rectified.

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Shoot again...

Zen Studios have proudly announced that their excellent original pinball simulation, Pinball FX, has received its third major engine it?eration, and is now available for download.

Pinball FX3 brings improved texture resolution, dynamic lighting and higher quality shadows to the game's previous engine. New modes have been added, including improved multiplayer options, a challenge mode, and all-new online tournaments. Almost all of your previously purchased tables will carry over, save for a few that cannot, due to licensing issues. Click here for a full compatibility list.

Alongside Pinball FX3's debut, comes the Universal Classics Pinball pack, which features original tables based on Steven Spielberg's Jaws, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, and Back to the Future.

Pinball FX3 is available for free download now on PS4, Xbox One and PC. It comes with the Sorcerer's Lair table, with a? whole rang??e of individual tables and packs priced from $3-$8 each.

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Special When Lit, fam

Zen Studios have announced that the latest iteration of their pinball simulator, Pinball FX, will be? coming to current-gen platforms later this month, September 26 to be precise.

Pinball FX3 will bring the great physics and high quality audio/visuals from its predecessor, but is also adding an all-new multiplayer mode, user-created tournaments and cross-platform play to the mix. The Sorcerer's Lair table will be included??? for free with the software download.

The Pinball FX3 software is free of charge, allowing you to purchase the particular games that take your interest from a staggering 65+ on offer. Although the majority of your purchases from previous Pinball FX games will carry over to the new platform, a handful will not due to expired licensing issues. The full list of compatible games can be found here.

The Universal Classics Pinball series will launch the same day, with Jaws, E.T. and Back to the Future ready to rock the new engine on day one. Cross-Platform play will allow Steam users to play alongside both PS4 and Xbox One owners, though obviously the PS4 and Xbox owners canno??t pla??y each other.

Pinball FX3 launches on PS4, Xbox One and PC September 26. The Universal Classics pack is also coming to Zen Pinball on iOS, Google Play and Mac.

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"FOREGROUND MY ASS!"

Despite the enormous range of movies that have received pinball machine adaptations, Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic Jaws was not one of them, even though it's a snug?? theme for it??.

Zen Pinball is fixing to rectify this situation, as Jaws will be coming to the updated Pinball FX3, when it launches later this year. Jaws will be the first of three Universal Studios-themed tables planned for the acclaimed simulator, to be followed by E.T. and Back to the Future at a later date.

The new table features buoy pop-bumpers, a ship's wheel housed in the left outlane and a shark cage scoop. A 3D model of Robert Shaw's grizzled shark hunter, Quint, leaps to and fro about the top of the playfield, awaiting the titular great white shark's appearance. As with all Pinball FX licensed table??s, there's so??me questionable impersonations going on for the callouts, but that's all part of the fun.

No signs of Roy Scheider's Chief Brody or Richard Dreyfuss' biologist Hooper unfortunately. We also seem to be get?ting a pretty-close-but-not-quite rendition of the iconic John Williams theme. We can expect a selection of modes based on scenes from the movie, as well as several multi-balls and a "Raging Sea" feature, which rocks the table.

Jaws will be released for Pinball FX3 when it launches later this year on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. The majority of tables purchased for previous Pinball FX games will carry over, alth??ough several as yet unnamed tables will not, due to licensing reasons.

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The Sony stands alone

One of the cooler features in the upcoming Pinball FX3 is the inclusion of live multiplayer between opponents. Now you don't have to just believe an easily faked scoreboard online to prove you are better than someone. While I didn't expect cross-platform to be a part of the experience, Zen Studios has announced that FX3 will feature competition between ?platforms. How awesome!

Unexpected?ly, PS4 players will be limited to matchmaking between other PS4 brethren and PC players. As for everyone else (Windows 10, PC, Xbox One), they'll have access to users from any version for multiplayer hi-jinks, excluding PS4. I suppo??se there really isn't anything we can do about that.

As for the list of playable tables, nearly every DLC table from the previous entry will transfer into 3. On??ly five aren't making the cut, which comes down to licensing issues. They are as follows:

• South Park Pinball 2 Table Pack
• Street Fighter Pinball
• Ninja Gaiden Pinball
• Plants vs. Zombies Pinball
• Ms. Splosion Man Pinball

What is mainly surprising is that things like Star Wars Pinball, Bethesda Pinball and Marvel Pinball are all getting a free transfer. You??'d think those respective IP owners would want players to pony up extra cash, but somehow Zen Studios has worked its magic. Good for them!

There isn't any word of a Switch release or even if the mobile ports will feature multiplayer, but apparently the game is coming "very soon," according to Zen Studios. It will be interesting to see how the older tables will look on a brand new engine and if they'll include any new gameplay features. I would guess not, which isn't too bad given the low cost of porting th??em over.

Pinball FX3 will feature cross-plat?form play, just not between consoles [Eurogamer]

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Putt putt DIY

A video game about miniature golf is sort of strange, if you think about i?t. Minigol??f is already an imitation of full-scale golf, reduced to putting and avoiding obstacles. Making a video game based on minigolf just adds another layer of abstraction to the sport. 

Zen Studios made their name with Zen Pinball, a comprehensive pinball simulator you can play on pretty much every platform out there. The tables available tend to be mostly realistic with just a few fantastic elements to spice things up and remind you you're playing a video game. That's also a fairly good description of their most recent project, Infinite Minigolf. The studio branched out in 2010 with Planet Minigolf on the PS3, and Infinite Minigolf is a successor of sorts. Zen's experience with ball physics translates nicely to their ??latest offering, but there are some strange design decisions that make me think the pro?ject may have bumped into some obstacles along the way.

Infinite Minigolf (PS4, PSVR, Xbox One, Switch [reviewed], Steam, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift)
Developer: Zen Studios
Publisher: Zen Studios
Released: July 25, 2017 (all other platforms) July 28, 2017 (Switch)
MSRP: $14.99

A golf game like this is entirely dependent on its physics, and fortunately, Infinite Minigolf delivers in this area. The ball reacts just as you'd expect, and you can judge your angles and use geometry to your? advantage if that's what the course requires. Instead of pressing a button three times to gauge power and accuracy, you simply aim your ball and pull back the left stick to determine how hard you'd like to hit it, then release the stick to take the shot. Courses usually have point bonuses and a power-up or two that can be collected by rolling through them, and power-u??ps can be activated by pressing the confirmation button. There's a wide array of power-ups available but you can only hold one in reserve at a time, so it's often advantageous to use them as quickly as you can so you can stack a few.

There are three course types you can play with, each of which has their own special hazards and decorations. The standard course is called Giant Home, and e?verything here is made of cardboard and duct tape, with large toys and? electronic equipment providing obstacles. The other two courses are both holiday themed. Nightmare Mansion has a Halloween aesthetic, while Santa's Factory's inspiration should be fairly obvious. Each of the different courses are unique and interesting, but it might have been nice to have a couple more options available. I wouldn't mind having a standard, green turf option to play around with, for example.

Infinite Minigolf allows players to create and share holes online, similar to games like LittleBigPlanet or Mario Maker. The good news is, it doesn't matter what system you buy Infinite Minigolf for, as player creations are cross-platform and compatible with every version of the game. You can rate a course with what looks like an emoji when you've finished with it, or just leave the creator a virtual pat on the back. There's also a decent sel??ection of pre-made courses included, and these tend to feature interactive elements such as a dog you can jump your ball over, or a Yeti?? that'll hit it with a snow shovel. 

The course creator is robust and easy to use, and there are several special features you can add to your course to set it apart. Unfortunately, Infinite Minigolf has the same problem many creator-driven games have: most people who play this type of game aren't designers. Player-made content varies wildly i?n difficulty an?d quality, and there doesn't seem to be a way to separate the dreck from the good stuff.

I can't count how many holes I played in quickplay that were straight lines, obstacle free, and made so that a full power swing ??????????????????????????from the default position would collect all the point bonuses and guarantee a hole-in-one. This ?isn't Zen's fault, but a better discovery system would be helpful here to encourage more creative experimentation. It's not much fun playing Mario when the flagpole is three blocks from the start.

Since your abilities never change in Infinite Minigolf, Zen chose to make personalizing your avatar the focus of the main gameplay loop. Completing tournaments or beating the goal score on a player-made hole earns you cards which can be exchanged for cosmetic items for your character. The items available for purchase are gated by your level, which can b?e raised by completing challenges. You can also earn coins by completing challenges, and these can be exchanged for randomized card packs.

The whole thing smacks of a free-to-play system, but there doesn't seem to be a way to exchange real-world money for additional cards or coins. It's a strange design choice and makes me think Infinite Minigolf may have starte?d development as an F2P game.

Multiplayer options are nicely varied, and you can play online or in the same room by passing? a controller around. I didn't get to try out the virtual reality functions since I was playing the Switch version, but all major VR platforms are represented. If you're buying on the Switch to play on the go, keep in mind you'll need a dedicated internet connection to play any of the player-made holes. If you don't have access, you'll be limited to the built-in courses created by Zen.

While the game plays well and looks and sounds pleasant, I did run into some annoyances. If your ball fails to clear a hill and ends up in a dip, it'll roll back and forth until all of its kinetic energy has been expended, and there's nothing you can do but wait. The aspect ratio can't be altered, and on the Switch, it's optimized for the handheld mode. If your TV has a different ratio, some UI elements might end up partially off-screen. And if there's something between your ball and the camera, you'd better be good at guessing, because you'll have to take your shot more or less blindfolded. I've never strapped a bulldog to my face before, but Infinite Minigolf let me simulate the experience. 

I was also less than pleased with the celebratory animations the player characters perform when they do something well. They can be skipped if you press the confirm button while they're playing, but there's no way to turn them off entirely. The male ava?tar's animations are pretty standard; fist pumps, disco moves, things like that. By comparison, the female avatar's moves are sort of sexist. She'll turn her back and wink at the camera or take a series of selfies when she gets a hole-in-one. I played a few rounds with my wife, and she seemed thoroughly disgusted with this behavior by the fifth hole.

Infinite Minigolf shows a lot of promise, but in its current state it's bland. Apart from the course creator, there's just nothing here that stands out from other minigolf titles. Zen has always been good about supporting their offerings after release, and I'm hopeful Infinite Minigolf will continue to receive updates to improve the experience. As it is, it's a decent time, but hard to recommend if you're not ??excited by the prospect of making your own courses.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publ?isher.]}

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Full Tilt

The mega popular Pinball FX series will be getting a new installment this year. Aptly named Pinball FX3, the game will contain all the zany antics fans have come to? expect along with a brand new multiplayer mode featuring competitive play. How that works should be interesting to see, since pinball is typically a solo endeavor.

If that doesn't tic?kle your fancy, then fear not! Zen Studios also makes mention of a variety of single-p??layer challenges that should push even the most skilled pinballers to their limits. No specifics have been given, but the game will be landing on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Windows 10 with three tables at launch.

That may seem paltry, but Zen Studios makes mention that a majority of the DLC for Zen Pinball 2 and Pinball FX2 will carry over into this new entry. That should definitely help alleviate concerns about a lack of cont?ent.

The post Zen Studi?os announces Pinball FX3, featuring multiplayer?? matches appeared first on Destructoid.

Looks pleasant enough

It's hard to shake the notion of Zen Studios working on anything outside of the pinball space, but it's happened plenty of times before, and it'll happen again. For instance: Planet Minigolf. Remember that one? Its followup, Infinite Minigolf, released ?last year on PC and is now headed to ??consoles.

As you can see in this recent trailer, there's a lot of emphasis placed on the game's course editor. "The team has spent a lot of time developing better tools for players to make their own content – which was the number one request from players," says head of studio Tamas Balog. "If you enjoy minigolf as well as creating and sharing your own content, Infinite Minigolf was designed for you."

The existing PC version is still working its way through Steam Early Access, but the full release and console versions (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) should be out later this spring. And on PC and PS4, there's al??????????????????????????so virtual reality support, something I'd be especially keen to try ou?t.

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Devils, dragons, mutants, and balls

I was in a game store when I came across a box of Bethesda blind-bag toys the other day. I don't know why, but they kind of captivated me for a little while. Seeing plastic miniatures of Dog Meat and the Lone Survivor mixing with the DoomGuy, Corvo, and the weird murder-dude with a safe for his head from the Evil Within made me appreciate the variety of Bethesda's library in a way I typically gloss over. It's easy to think of Bethesda as an Elder Scrolls and Fallout factory ?and forget the other weird and interesting titles un??der the studio's belt.

The Bethesda Pinball pack for Zen Pinball 2 strikes the same chord. It's pinball, but played on tables based on the eclectic settings of Fallout 4, Skyrim, and Doom. Each table takes the very familiar experience of playing one of these three major titles and abstracts it out to flippers, silver balls, and t??ilt warnings. It makes for a weird and interesting experience you might not immediately expect from the worlds of Bethesda.

Bethesda Pinball (PlayStation 4 [reviewed], PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Mac, PC)
Developer: Zen Studios
Publisher: Zen Studios
Released: December 6, 2016 (Console and PC) December 8, 2016 (Mobile)
MSRP: $10.99 (PSN, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Mac)

If you've played any of Zen Pinball 2's novelty tables before, such as the Aliens vs. Pinball pack released earlier this year, you should already know what to expect. All three tables are gorgeously rendered, featuring a kind of semi-realistic style that blends the traditional pinball design and trappings with some outlandish table hazards and animated figures that stalk the sides and top edges of the tables. The Doom table is dominated by a sneering Cyberdemon, the Lone Wanderer ducks and dodges at the bottom of the Fallout table, while the Skyrim table has lousy fire spewing with dragons, just like the?? real deal.

As always, it's in the little touches where the tables find their charm. Like when a miraculous “FUS RO DAH” saves a sinking ball in Skyrim, or when a bumper hit triggers the iconic bang of the Doom shotgun. The big animated characters are fun, but to me, it's the little details that truly sing, the parts you can buy-into and believe would really make it to a licensed pinball game in some alternate timeline where arcades nev??er went out of style.

All three tables try to stay true to their namesake games, borrowing different elements of their design and translating them to pinball. For Fallout and Skyrim, this means piling on the RPG tropes. Before you can even launch the ball, you need to generate a ch??aracter, picking SPECIAL stats like you were fresh from the Vault or choosing your prefer??red combat style between mage, fighter, and rogue. It's an amusing diversion from the typical pinball experiences.

Fallout leans hard into the idea. Trapping the ball in certain pits will trigger shops (displayed in a classically clunky LCD screen) to purchase Rad-X, Stimpacks, and gear (provided you have the caps), just like the full game. Skyrim also allows allows you to equip your character, changing the animated player avatar on the side of the table from a jerkin-wearing nobody to a fully developed character after long (long) sessions of play. Sinking three balls isn't the end, as you can opt to continue as the same chara??cter in further playthroughs, amassing gear and weapons until you resemble a respectable Orc. Both games let the player choose different companions, factions, and generally recreate the Bethesda-RPG experience in a bizarre little microcosm of bumpers and ramps.

Unfortunately, these same unique elements are also what holds these tables back in some ways. While novel and interesting, the RPG trappings have a way of breaking up the flow of the game. Fallout is particularly plagued with constant stop-and-go action as frequent (intentional or not) trips to different traps pester the player with menus and options to tab through to get back to the game. It's fun at first, but quickly be?comes tedious.

Doom is a little more traditional, lacking the RPG components, but captures the aggressive spirit of its inspiration well. Doom features weapon swapping just like the shooter, frequent multi-balls to match the frantic pace of the game, and extra touches like super-heating the ball to a glowing hot orb of destruction, bringing the badass super aggression of Doom to the table. Even the heavy metal soundtrack makes the transition from demon-slaying to pinball surprisingly well. Turns out Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia was rig??ht after all, pinball really is the devil's tool.

As you likely expect from Zen Pinball tables by now, there are all kinds of "missions" to complete and goofy table interactions to witness. Fling your ball up the right ramp or trap and you'll be able to do things like sleep at the inn in Skyrim (which funnily enough advances the clock an??d can lead to a nighttime version of the table), shut down the reactor on the Mars research station, or pull jobs?? for the Railroad.

Sometimes the regular pinball action will stop to put you in a bizarre mini-game. Players are tasked with navigating a tiny dungeon with a ball by tipping the table, or bursting demonic sacks by bouncing the ball around a small arena with weightless floating stones. As usual, these mini-games are often clunky and difficult to pick up, but offer some amusing diversions to the standard experience and give the tables a bit of flavo?r. If you really want to master the tables and set a high-score, learning how to access these missions and excel at them is key.

Sadly, the structure doesn't work as well for each table. Skyrim in particular suffers from repetition, as the game begins with the same sequence (more or less, this is pinball after all) as the actual title: escaping a dragon attack. Hearing your Nord companion/narrator tell you to "watch out! Try to avoid the flames!" is ?fun the first time. Around the twentieth or so times, you'll want to conquer his lands in the name of the Imperial army just to spite him.

This is compounded by the fact that the Skyrim table just doesn't seem that well made. Despite all the interesting possibili??ties of dragon-slaying, battling trolls, finding loot, and learning new Dovahkiin powers, it's rare to actually accomplish these goals. The table seems designed to sink the ball as quickly as possible, with a huge flat square positioned just at the top middle of the table that seems perfectly shaped and spaced to kill a?ll momentum and drop the ball down the center every time you touch it. Add on a number of bumpers that consistently fling the ball towards the dead-end left side pit, and progress on any of the many, many quests available is painfully slow.

I'll be the first to admit I'm not the hottest pinball player in the world, but with Zen tables I'm usually able to progress a fair amount and see a good spread of what a game has to offer. I feel like I'm still missing big chunks of the Skyrim experience even after repeated attempts, and all the repetition does little to encoura?ge more time on the table.

The Bethesda Pinball pack is an odd proposition. The tables are spectacular looking and all the little touches and gameplay twists are ambitious and creative in a way I really enjoy thinking about. But, both the Skyrim and Fallout tables are held back by small annoyances and wonky design choices that just make them less fun to play than they should be. Doom ended up being my favorite of the pack, which in a way is disappoi??nting since it is also the most traditional of the tables offered. Maybe I'm just a pinball purist. O??r maybe that pinball devil has a hold on me.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Zen Pinball 2: Bethesda Pinball appeared first on Destructoid.

Know any good neck stretches?

It feels like it's been years since I've last played a Zen Studios pinball game. I mean, my goodness! The list of tables available for Pinball FX2 stretches on and on. Where do you even start at this point?

For as much fun as I've had with that game and Zen's earlier work, I'm no pinball wizard. Those feelings of leaderboard inadequacy had me hesitant to try my hand at Pinball FX2 VR, which is out this week for P?layStation VR and HTC Vive following the Oculus Rift version that launched back in March. In?? the end, though, I'm glad I went for it. Pinball translates really well to virtual reality.

To be perfectly up front, there isn't a whole lot to mention that you wouldn't already expect from Pinball FX2 VR. The game is set in a fancy, heavily-windowed home with a? few pre-set pinball table locations, and as you buy more, you can swap your f?avorite tables in or out at will.

You aren't walking around the house -- navigation is sight-based, and confirmed with a button press -- but as you play each table, the scene around you will come alive with relevant visual flourishes. In the Secrets of t?he Deep table, for instance, your swanky home looks like it's underwater, with jellyfish floating off to the side of the table and a well-render?ed shark swimming circles around you.

While playing the Walking Dead table, zombies eerily peer at you from outside the windows, and one of them is right within arm's reach. Some of these effects are more convincing (and distracting) than others. In the case of the up-close zombie, I couldn't help but lean forward and stare every time I lost a ball. He made me desperate for Telltale to brings its Walking Dead adventure series over to VR.

As for the tables themselves, the base Pinball FX2 VR package (pictured above) only comes with three, and the rest are sold as DLC. While Zen's pinball tables can bend the rules of the real world or otherwise seem implausible due to their "video game"-style objectives and complex moving parts, that never really bothered me before, and it feels like even less of a??n issue while playing in virtual reality.

You play from an overhead view, looking down on the table just as you would in real life. Put another way, in order to see the bottom-most flippers, your default position in real life is going to be one where your head is tilted at least slightly downward, and you'll need to peer up in order to see the scoring screen at the top of the machine. That mig?ht sound irksome, but it's necessary for the game to achieve immersion and sell your brain on the idea that you're playing pinball for real.

As a result of all this, I much prefer to play sitting down (for this and any VR game that allows it), just for comfort's sake. Pinball FX2 VR can and will cause neck strain if you let it, but by messing around with the "recenter view" button, I was able to get it to where I could see the vital lower half of the pinball table at a more natural "resting" position. ??That's worth figuring out up front.

The main thing going against Pinball FX2 VR is a criticism typical of VR: the pricing.

At $14.99, the base game has three tables: Secrets of the Deep, Mars, and Epic Quest. Then there's the Season 1 Pack, which comes in at $24.99, and includes five tables: CastleStorm, Wild West Rampage, BioLab, Paranormal, and Earth Defense. Finally, Zen is selling the Walking Dead table as its own DLC, priced at $5.99. You'll need the base game in order to play this additional ?content.

On top of that, there isn't a loyalty discount for returning players. So if you've purchased any of these Pinball FX2 tables on other platforms, you'll still have to pay full price like everyone else. I understand that new work went into getting t?hese existing experience?s right for VR, but even a little discount could have gone a long way. Similarly, piecemeal pricing would've been appreciated.

I wasn't able to test out the Vive port of Pinball FX2 VR or the first-to-market Oculus Rift ver??sion, but according to Zen, the game is "functionally identical across VR platforms."

Assuming the PlayStation VR version is on the lower-end as far as visual fidelity is concerned, I still think it looks sufficiently good. If you're into pinball (or at least this team's digital interpretation of it), I'd give this a go, but you may want to wait for additional tables to come out first?. It certainly fills a nice, calming niche i?n my VR library as a title that doesn't overwhelm the senses.

Just don't forget to give your neck a break. Lea??rn from my?? mistakes!

_{[This impressions piece is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Last-gen releases, too

Zen Studios had runaway success with its Zen Pinball series. While the first game wasn't too widespread, Zen Pinball 2 has been ported to more devices than I can count. It even has a Wii U port, which is basically just for show with most developers. Couple that with Star Wars Pinball and Marvel Pinball a?nd I think Zen Studios has cornered the niche market of vir??tual pinball machines.

Not letting the train run out of steam, Zen is teaming up with Bethesda to bring us Bethesda Pinball. The game will feature tables based on Doom, Skyrim, and Fallout 4. It will cost? $11 and launch on December 6 for (get ready for it) PS4, PS3, PS Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, Mac, mobile, and Windows 10. That certainly is a lot of platforms.

For anyone worried about making another purchase, these three tables will be coming to Zen Pinball 2 as DLC. I'm sure a standalone release will also follow for retail, much like Star Wars Pinball.

B?eth??esda and Zen Studios Team Up for an Epic Pinball Pack [Zen Studios]

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All the super ladies, all the super ladies

The next big update for Marvel Pinball? is all about the ladies. Zen Studios has announced two new tables are dropping next week that feature some of the best heroines of the Marvel Universe coming together to save the day.

The first table, dubbed the A-Force table, features Black Widow and Madame Masque in a Soviet-controlled alternate reality following the destruction of a Cosmic Cube. In the table's Wizard Mode, you control both heroes as they try to keep Cosmic Cube balls alive. The second table, called the Champions table, features an original storyline with Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl and Spider-Gwen trying to stop Bombshell following a bank robbery. Spider-Gwen, Squirrel Girl, and Kamala Khan together on a si?ngle table? Count me in! I guess that means I should probably download ??this game.

You can play the Marvel Pinball Women of Power tables when they launch on September 27 for Xb??ox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Steam, Windows 10, Mac?, Android, iOS, and Amazon. No word on if or when they'll come to the Wii U.

Marvel's Women of Power Two Pack Coming NEXT WEEK [Zen Studios]

The post The world’s greatest superhero is coming to Marvel Pinball appeared first on Destructoid.

Not the Alien's most terrifying incarnation

Today is Alien Day, the latest in a series of dubious holidays pushed by marketing departments. Unlike Back to the Future Day which has a very obvious temporal tie-in, the date for Alien Day comes from the planetoid LV-426, the in-fiction rock the Aliens were originally found?? on.

Yeah, seems like a stringy connection to me, too. Another flimsy excuse to hype up a franchise long past its prime and sell some merch. I'd be more upset about it, but I'm having too good a time playing Aliens vs. Pinball to really work up a good indignant fuss.

Aliens vs. Pinball (PlayStation 4 [reviewed], PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Mac, PC)
Developer: Zen Studios
Publisher: Zen Studios
Released: April 26, 2016
MSRP: $9.99 (PSN, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Mac), $1.99 per table (iOs, Android)

If you're familiar with Zen Studios and its licensed franchise tables, you know what to expect from Aliens vs. Pinball -- amazing fantasy tables packed to the gills with references, nods, and clips from the original properties. In this case, the pack is comprised of three separate tables drawing on different sources. There's a table based on the venerable action classic Aliens, the somewhat less venerable Alien vs. Predator, and the surprisingly greatAlien: Isolation.

Each table reinforces its personality with sound and voice clips taken from the original sources. While many previous Zen Pinball tables has relied on sound-alikes or “close enough” takes, Xenomorph purists will be happy to know that Aliens vs. Pinball includes the real deal. Of course to me, this was only really impressive with the Aliens table sinceAlien: Isolation is too recent to be nostalgic for, and I couldn't give a crap about the artistic integrity of the Alien vs. Predator experience.

And yes, of course, they got the “game over, man!” Bill Paxton sound bite for when you sink your last ball. If they didn't, the whole damn thing would be a? wash.

For the most part, the tables look and feel like something that could actually exist in a smokey arcade hall in a sketchy area of town (as God intended?? pinball machines to be). They're lovingly detailed with lights, art, and the kind of hyper-compressed and yet still frustratingly vague info that makes pinball machines such a joy to look at. As always, the attention to detail is spot on and even silly things like the LED display feel 100% authentic.

However, the fantasy nature does allow the tables a few extra flourishes a physical cabinet could never enjoy. In the Alien: Isolation table, the Alien freely stalks the top o??f the machine and will pounce across the playing field to tackle Amanda Ripley if you don't hit enough targets to distract it. The Predator will fire plasma rounds and hurl ninja stars across the table at a Xenomorph. While I personally lean towards authenticity in my fantasy ??pinball, these small touches straddle the line between the implausibly elaborate and the impossible well enough to not be too distracting.

There are a few instances where the fantasy element is laid on a little too thick however. Complete enough goals in the Aliens table for example, and the game will suddenly switch from a pinball simulation to a weird, awkward 3D driving game where you try to steer an APC through a tunnel filled with wreckage. These sequences are few and far between (especially if you play like me) so they don't ruin the experience, but I would have just as soon Zen Studios didn't include them. The standard pinball action is more than compelling enoug??h without jarring distractions to interrupt it.

Each table is packed with plenty of goals and bonus missions for pinball wizards to complete. Aliens cleverly recreates the events of the film, focusing on exploring and making contact with the Aliens, finding Newt, fending off a hord?e of Aliens with a sentry gun (and hopefully a multi-ball bonus) a?nd eventually confronting the queen. It's shockingly addicting and I found myself returning to the table, again and again, to try and get a little bit further. It was definitely my favorite table of the bunch.

Alien vs. Predator ;similarly gates progress to completing goals. As mentioned earlier, hitting certain targets will power up the Predator to kick the crap out of the Aliens, but you can also get your own licks in with a clever trick shot to hit a mini-Alien tucked into a little nook near the top of the table (there's something joyful about killing one of the most terrifying monsters in cinema with a small silver ball). I also enjoyed the mini-puzzle segment with the prop?-pyramid. Seems very much in spirit with the crazy, elaborate things late pinball machines w?ere getting into when the market collapsed.

Alien: Isolation is the most ambitious of the three tables, really trying to recreate the experience of the actual game. You need to keep an eye on your health and ammo levels, find new equipment, hide from the Alien in cabinets or through vents, and even perform stealth kills on tiny pop-up Working Joe targets. It's delightful. There is even a hacking mini-game that opens up a small screen in the middle of the playing field to frantically try and arrange glyphs with a pinball – the least efficient input? device ever created.

However, as much as I wanted to enjoy the Isolation table, one design decision consistently got in my way. Unlike the other tables which give you missions from the get-go, in Isolation, you need to hit a small computer terminal to activate them, and for the life of me I could not find a way to reliably hit the necessary target. This could just be me being bad, but activating a mission was a matter of luck for me. A shame since the few that I managed to play were charming, quirky, and challenging. I RE?ALLY want??ed to complete four missions and get the flamethrower upgrade, but alas, it was never in the cards.

Aliens vs. Pinball ;is great, both as a novelty and as a serious set of tables. Whether you're just a fan of Aliens stuff and like the idea of a fun way to kill a few minutes here and there, or the kind of fanatic that will obsess over a table, playing over and ov?er again to complete all the objectives and s??et a massive score, you can't go wrong.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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